Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 18 July 2007.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimates his Department has made of illegal fishing volumes (a) inland and (b) at sea; and if he will make a statement.
By its very nature illegal fishing is clandestine and so it is extremely difficult to make an accurate estimate of the levels of illegal fishing activities. We therefore use the level of prosecutions as a proxy for the level of illegal activity. Data below relates to inland and sea fisheries in England and Wales.
For inland Fisheries, the National Enforcement Database holds information that relates to offences where nets, snares, traps and spears have been used and where unauthorised fishing and failing to return fish has taken place. It predominantly records cases where serious poaching has occurred, which can result in imprisonment.
The following table shows the total number of fisheries convictions per year 2002-06.
Convictions | |
2002 | 46 |
2003 | 31 |
2004 | 25 |
2005 | 70 |
2006 | 39 |
Source: National Enforcement Database |
The total number of convictions under the Sea Fisheries Regulations Act 1966 are as follows.
Convictions | |
2002 | 0 |
2003 | 0 |
2004 | 4 |
2005 | 3 |
2006 | 10 |
Source: National Enforcement Database |
The following table shows the total number of convictions where people have been found to be fishing without a rod licence. This type of conviction holds a maximum fine of £2,500. The Fisheries Offence Prosecution System records cases involving salmon, trout, freshwater fish and eels. It does not include convictions for salt water related cases.
Convictions | |
2003-04 | 3,651 |
2004-05 | 4,099 |
2005-06 | 4,939 |
2006-07 | 4,209 |
Source: Fisheries Offence Prosecution System |
At sea, the total numbers of sea fisheries offences detected in England and Wales per year resulting in convictions are set out as follows:
Convictions | |
2000 | 131 |
2001 | 103 |
2002 | 84 |
2003 | 112 |
2004 | 73 |
2005 | 69 |
2006 | 88 |
Note: The above table refers to the year in which the offences were detected. Convictions may occur in the same or following years. Source: Marine and Fisheries Agency—UK Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance System. |
At the international level, with the caveat that estimates are based on a few case studies, recent UK funded work has reported that fish to the value of $4 billion US to $9 billion US are caught illegally worldwide every year. The UK is one of the countries in the international arena leading the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, following the recommendations of the 2006 High Seas Task Force report, "Closing the Net". Together with international partners we have made progress on key projects aimed at exposing illegal activities, deterring them and improving enforcement action against those responsible.
Yes2 people think so
No0 people think not
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